Southbound I-5 reopens at Pendleton

Camp Pendleton fire:

The southbound lanes of Interstate 5 reopened about 7:30 a.m., though they were nearly empty and may close again because several spot fires have jumped the highway and were burning on the west side of the freeway, two or three miles north of Las Pulgas Road.

Three large plumes of dark smoke could be seen on the east side of I-5 in Camp Pendleton.

The northbound lanes remained closed; police escorted a couple of cars through every once in a while.

-- Scott Gold